Field scenario: The machine slides two feet sideways, catches, and stops. It is not rolled over, but everyone is quiet and staring at it.
Why this matters
The shutdown must be instant, but recovery must be slow and deliberate to avoid a second incident.
Pass standard
Unsafe movement gets stopped immediately, then recovery happens only after communication and assessment.
- Use emergency stop immediately for runaway movement, loss of signal, person in zone, fire, rollover risk, or machine instability.
- After e-stop, pause. Confirm people are clear, communicate status, and assess the safest recovery plan before touching controls again.
- Do not rush recovery because the machine is expensive or visible from the road. Secondary incidents happen during rushed recoveries.
- Document the event and notify management if there was instability, damage, near miss, fire, or outside exposure.
Operator checkpoints
E-stop used quicklyPeople accounted forRecovery plan reviewedManagement notified if neededIncident documented
Common mistakes
- Trying to save the pass instead of hitting e-stop.
- Restarting before people are accounted for.
- Rushing recovery because the machine is visible or expensive.
Document in Jobber
- Near-miss or instability notes.
- Photos if safe.
- Management notification and recovery actions.
Field standard: Hesitation is the enemy during shutdown. Rushing is the enemy during recovery.